Buffalo Sabres: Prospects Challenge game 2 recap

The Buffalo Sabres prospects were back at it on Saturday night as they played against the prospects from the Boston Bruins in game 2 of the 2018 Prospects Challenge.

The results were not as positive as game 1 though as the Sabres fell to the Bruins 3-1 in front of another sold out crowd at Harborcenter. The Sabres played well but ran into a tough Bruins team.

"“That was a good team. It was very valuable. A team like that, you can’t turn pucks over at the blue line, they’re going to come back at you. Like I said, a lot of individualized play for us. I didn’t think we were as physical, especially in front of the net. We couldn’t sustain to be there.” – Coach Chris Taylor"

After Jonas Johansson was net on Friday, 2017 second round draft pick Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was the goaltender for the Sabres on Saturday. The big Finnish goaltender allowed 2 goals on 31 shots with the Bruins adding an empty net goal. Luukkonen played well enough with the Sabres defense not doing much for him on either goal. Luukkonen will be back with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL in 2018-19.

The lone goal for the Sabres came from Vasily Glotov who tied the game with 17:37 of the first period. The goal was assisted by Eric Cornel and Matej Pekar. Glotov, the Sabres 7th round draft pick in the 2016 NHL draft, remains unsigned by the Sabres but has a contract with the Rochester Americans.

The biggest addition in the lineup was defenseman Brendan Guhle who did not play in game 1 on Friday night. Guhle, who is battling for on of the final defenseman spots with the Sabres, played well and was one of the oldest players on the ice for Buffalo.

"“It’s pretty crazy. I felt like it was not that long ago that I was in my first camp and seeing all these young guys come through. It’s pretty cool.” – Brendan Guhle"

Of course also on the ice for the Sabres were Rasmus Dahlin and Casey Mittelstadt, two of the players everybody is most excited about for this season. Dahlin was on the ice for one of the Bruins goals but did create some offensive chances. Mittelstadt had a couple of shots on goals but he has yet to register a point in either game of the tournament.

The Prospects Challenge returns on Monday with the New Jersey Devils facing the Bruins at 9:30 AM and the Sabres playing the Pittsburgh Penguins at 12:30. The Sabres game can be streamed at sabres.com.

What were your takeaways from game 2? Let us know in the comment section below.